Appeals

[Rackster]

Is throwing to a base to get a runner out who clearly didn't tag up considered an appeal? Situation: Ct HS varsity game. Two man crew. One out, R2 and R3. Batter flies out to LF. R3 tags and scores without a play. R2 never tags (must have thought there were 2 outs.). Upon ball being thrown into 3B, numerous players (and crowd) yells "Throw to 2B, he never tagged up". Third baseman throws ball to second baseman who tags 2B. Field umpire rules safe, admitting he wasn't watching R2. Manager calls time and asks field ump seek help from plate ump, which he does. Plate umpire rules safe, then says, "I was watching runner on third, who left early, not runner on second so you appealed wrong runner and now it's too late to appeal that runner." Field ump was obviously out of position and I have no idea why plate ump would announce R3 left early instead of just ruling safe. My question is, is the play on R2 considered an appeal when he clearly (to everyone but the umps!) left early?

[Jimurray]

8 minutes ago, Rackster said:

Is throwing to a base to get a runner out who clearly didn't tag up considered an appeal? Situation: Ct HS varsity game. Two man crew. One out, R2 and R3. Batter flies out to LF. R3 tags and scores without a play. R2 never tags (must have thought there were 2 outs.). Upon ball being thrown into 3B, numerous players (and crowd) yells "Throw to 2B, he never tagged up". Third baseman throws ball to second baseman who tags 2B. Field umpire rules safe, admitting he wasn't watching R2. Manager calls time and asks field ump seek help from plate ump, which he does. Plate umpire rules safe, then says, "I was watching runner on third, who left early, not runner on second so you appealed wrong runner and now it's too late to appeal that runner." Field ump was obviously out of position and I have no idea why plate ump would announce R3 left early instead of just ruling safe. My question is, is the play on R2 considered an appeal when he clearly (to everyone but the umps!) left early?

What rule code does Ct HS use? It might affect follow up comments. But in any code, the throw to 2B was an appeal. In any code that appeal would not prevent further appeals on different runners or that runner missing a different base. 

[johnnyg08]

2 hours ago, Rackster said:

Is throwing to a base to get a runner out who clearly didn't tag up considered an appeal? Situation: Ct HS varsity game. Two man crew. One out, R2 and R3. Batter flies out to LF. R3 tags and scores without a play. R2 never tags (must have thought there were 2 outs.). Upon ball being thrown into 3B, numerous players (and crowd) yells "Throw to 2B, he never tagged up". Third baseman throws ball to second baseman who tags 2B. Field umpire rules safe, admitting he wasn't watching R2. Manager calls time and asks field ump seek help from plate ump, which he does. Plate umpire rules safe, then says, "I was watching runner on third, who left early, not runner on second so you appealed wrong runner and now it's too late to appeal that runner." Field ump was obviously out of position and I have no idea why plate ump would announce R3 left early instead of just ruling safe. My question is, is the play on R2 considered an appeal when he clearly (to everyone but the umps!) left early?

Yes, it is an appeal play. 

[beerguy55]

On 4/7/2019 at 10:35 AM, Rackster said:

Is throwing to a base to get a runner out who clearly didn't tag up considered an appeal?

Yes - it frankly doesn't matter if his failure to tag up was obvious or not.  The throw to that base is an appeal that he left early, and it's the umpire's job to judge if he did or not.

22 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

Plate umpire rules safe, then says, "I was watching runner on third, who left early, not runner on second so you appealed wrong runner and now it's too late to appeal that runner."

This is wrong.  First - he shouldn't be announcing anything.  He should just tell BU that he wasn't watching second base, and has no information to offer.  BU then rules he is sticking with his safe call.  Second - PU should  not say a thing about R3.  If you decide to appeal third as well that would be a legal appeal and the runner would be called out.

Otherwise, by the ump's logic, a team could have all three runners leave early on a fly ball and you'd only be allowed to appeal one of them.  So, in this ump's world, bases loaded, nobody out, fly ball to the warning track - send everybody.  By the time the ball is caught and thrown in all three runners should score, and since the ump thinks you can only appeal one of them, you get two free runs.

Sometimes thinking is difficult for people.

[kylehutson]

2 hours ago, beerguy55 said:

Sometimes thinking is difficult for people.

Quote of the day here.

[Rackster]

BEERGUY... That is what I thought. Connecticut uses NFHS rules for those wondering. In this situation, if appeal was successful and no subsequent appeal was made on R3, run would count if scored before appeal, correct? Thanks in advance and thanks to all who have responded. Much appreciated!

[maven]

3 hours ago, Rackster said:

In this situation, if appeal was successful and no subsequent appeal was made on R3, run would count if scored before appeal, correct?

Yes. It's an appeal play, not a force out (a common error). That makes R3 scoring a time play: if he scores before that 3rd out, the run counts.

To prevent the run from scoring, the defense would also have to (successfully) appeal R3 failing to retouch for an apparent 4th out.